NEC Football Week 7 Power Rankings
1. Duquesne (3-2, 1-0 NEC)
The Dukes take the top spot after a dominant 47-21 win over LIU. With quarterback Darius Perrantes back in action, the Duquesne offense looked explosive, with Perrantes showing the skills we expected to see from him in his final season. He set a home field record with 5 touchdown passes. The three-game win streak highlights the defending champs' momentum as they solidify their place as favorites to defend the NEC title. The win against LIU was the worst beating LIU has taken from an FCS team by far this season- and they’ve played then-ranked Albany and Top 10 Villanova squads extremely tight. The Sharks are better than their record, and Duquesne is better than receiving votes in the FCS polls- it’s time to rank the Dukes.
2. Central Connecticut (2-3, 1-0 NEC)
A one-point heartbreaker to Ivy League's Yale drops Central Connecticut a spot this week. Despite the 23-22 loss, CCSU was competitive throughout and nearly pulled out the win. We really can’t punish them too badly for it. Brady Olsen continues to lead the offense effectively, but the defense will need to step up as they face stiffer NEC competition moving forward. They remain unbeaten in conference play and will look to stay that way. This week, they’ll take on Mercyhurst in what is a non-conference matchup for scheduling purposes.
3. Saint Francis U (2-3, 0-1 NEC)
The Red Flash rebound with a 28-17 win over Delaware State. Their defense, long a cornerstone, was solid, but it was their offense and special teams that got the job done when it mattered most this time around. The Red Flash relied on their running game late, with Markell Holman rushing for 182 yards, with 143 of them in the final frame alone. Saint Francis continues to show they are a threat in the NEC with a balanced team and should pose problems for any opponent. A strong bounce-back win after the tough loss to a Central Connecticut team that they could have beaten.
4. Robert Morris (2-3, 1-0 NEC)
RMU was on a bye this week, but their previous road win over Wagner made it impossible to drop them below the Seahawks. With Tyvon Edmonds Jr. leading the charge at running back and Noah Robinson at wideout, RMU remains dangerous offensively. However, their consistency remains in question after up-and-down performances to start the season. They have a chance to make a big statement when they return to action this week against Delaware State- a team that Saint Francis needed a big 4th quarter comeback to beat. If the Colonials are for real, we’ll know about it by the end of the day on Sunday.
5. Wagner (3-3, 1-1 NEC)
Wagner climbs up the rankings after a convincing 28-7 road win over conference foe Stonehill. The Seahawks' defense was smothering, holding Stonehill to just 7 points, while Ricky Spruill garnered just over 100 yards on the turf. Defenses seem to have learned from the early season and are focusing on slowing down Jaylen Bonelli. The Seahawks have a capable running back to punish the strategy, and the defense is the usual quality we see from head man Tom Masella. Wagner’s ability to bounce back from their tough loss to RMU shows they have the grit and potential to contend down the stretch.
6. Mercyhurst (2-4, 0-0 NEC)
Mercyhurst climbs the rankings with an absolute demolition of Buffalo State, 55-0. While it was a non-conference game against a Division III opponent, this kind of dominant performance can be a great confidence booster. WR Cameron Barmore and QB Adam Urena remain well worth the price of admission, and the Lakers may be a disrupter to watch out for against Central Connecticut, despite their ineligibility for the NEC title.
7. Stonehill (1-4, 0-1 NEC)
A disappointing 28-7 loss to Wagner at home sends Stonehill tumbling down the rankings. Quarterback Ashur Carraha wasn’t able to get the offense moving against Wagner’s stout defense, and the Skyhawks struggled to put points on the board. Stonehill has shown flashes, and Coach Gardner has a young team this season. Stonehill will need to learn to regroup quickly, but that’s part of the growth process of a young team.
8. LIU (0-6, 0-1 NEC)
The Sharks remain winless after a tough 47-21 loss to Duquesne. While LIU has played a difficult schedule with some close calls, they haven’t been able to break through. Their offense looked overmatched against Duquesne, and it looked like they were using the first half to try and find an answer for their offensive identity. LIU has looked really good at times this season despite their record. Hopefully, the Sharks remember that their goals are still in front of them, but with the loss to Duquesne, they’ll need a little bit of help to get there.
